Congress issues warning to Margaret Alva

Published: Friday, November 7, 2008, 18:37 [IST]

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{image-Margaret Alva_07112008.jpg www.oneindia.com}New Delhi, Nov 7: Objecting to Congress General Secretary Margaret Alva's allegation that some leaders had sold party tickets during the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress today sternly warned her against repeating such 'emotional outbursts" when the Party had its own mechanism to handle such grievances.

"It goes without saying that such grievances are not to be aired in public. The mechanism within the party and estabished conventions are large and competent enough to handle all such grievances," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons while referring to Ms Alva's outbursts during an interview to NDTV India. "We understand these are emotional moments. But she is a seasoned leader," he said, while pointing out that Ms Alva, a former Union Minister, was also a member of the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress which finalises the list of candidates for all elections.

"All her grievances have several ample and sufficient fora to be considered within the party. WE have, no doubt, such outbursts will not be repeated," Dr Singhvi said.

Referring to the BJP's allegation that Ms Alva's statement had exposed the 'cash-for-ticket" scam in the Congress, he said : "Let them first set their house in order. Let them not fish in troubled waters." Asked if the Party would initiate disciplinary action against Ms Alva for her remarks, Dr Singhvi said : "It is an individual perception and the party will deal with it." When a reporter pointed out that there were complaints about giving tickets to a large number of relatives of top Congress leaders in Rajasthan, he said "there is no absolute blank rule of giving or not giving to relatives. The Only criterion in the selection is winnability of candidate and his commitment to party."